The SayWhat?! series has been very practical in helping families connect emotionally.  The first week was all about discovering the Love Language of you and your mate.  The second week was about discovering the Love Language of Children.

What are the Five Love Languages?

• Words of Affirmation…This is expressing love, encouragament, and praise verbally such as literally saying “I love you.”
• Acts of Service…This is expressing love by doing things for the person you love such as making a favorite meal.
• Quality Time…This is expressing love by spending time with the one you love.  It could be sharing a meal or taking a walk.
• Gifts…This is expressing love in tangible things that you give as a gift.  It may be a wildflower that you bring inside, or larger gifts that say, “I was thinking of you.”
• Physical Touch…This is expressing love through physical contact such as with hugs, kisses, and intimacy.

The most important thing to remember with Love Languages is that

–We each have a primary love language. This is how we most clearly communicate love, and most clearly receive the message “I love you.”  If we don’t receive this message clearly enough in the way we expect, we can easily feel unloved.

–You must speak the love language of your mate or your child if you want to communicate love.  Knowing your own love language is nice, but it is crucial that you know and speak the love language of the one you love.  This is not easy…it will take as much effort and will feel as foreign as learning a new language or culture.  Your spouse and your children most likely have a different love language than you.

–Finally, when it comes to children, you must speak all five Love Languages.  Of course, you should look for clues for their potential primary love language.  If you speak in this langage, you will best communicate your love.  However, you must speak all five love languages to children.  They need all of the expressions of love to develop properly.